Breaking Local News

A man wanted for questioning in North Carolina was found this week in Putnam County. 35-year old James Michael Burcham was pulled over by West Virginia State Police on Interstate 64 near the Hurricane exit, after his vehicle had been flagged by law enforcement in North Carolina. Burcham was wanted for questioning in connection to a death investigation. He'll be taken back to North Carolina.

A serious drunk driving accident in Roane County left one person dead and one severely injured early Thursday. Police have arrested the driver of the pickup truck that ran off W. Va. 36 and hit a house near Looneyville. 23-year-old Chaz Simmons of Spencer is charged with DUI causing death and DUI causing injury. Thirty-year-old Kelly Casto was killed and 38-year-old William Cottrell was severely injured, in serious condition at Charleston Area Medical Center. Police say Casto and Cottrell were asleep inside the house when the accident occurred. Simmons was treated for minor injuries and released.

Hunters can get permits now for two hunts later this year. The Division of Natural Resources says the antlerless deer hunts will be conducted at seven wildlife management areas, three state forests and in 10 counties. The hunts on public and private land will be held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7, Dec. 19 to 21, and Dec. 28 to 31. A hunt from Oct. 24 to 26 is for private land only. A bear hunt without dogs will be offered by permit only on private land in 19 counties and will be held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7. Applications are available on the DNR's website, at district offices and through licensed agents. The application deadline for either license is Aug. 19.

West Virginia's House of Delegates Speaker Tim Miley announced changes Thursday that included Majority Leader Brent Boggs and Finance Chairman Harry Keith White exchanging their posts. Miley had been Judiciary chair when delegates elected him speaker last month. Miley has promoted Vice Chairman Tim Manchin to take over that major committee. The Democrats also hold a slim majority in the House, occupying just 54 of its 100 seats.

Swimming pools around Kanawha County are going to close early this year since school starts August 9th. Pools will stay open on Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day weekend, but the last day they'll be open during the week will be August 9th. That's pools across the county. It's also possible city pools in Charleston will close early as they lose lifeguards, but no final decision has been made.

The investigation continues after meth making materials were found inside a truck this week. Someone called police with a tip that meth was being made inside a home on Stuart Street on Charleston's West Side. Officers didn't find anything inside the home, but a truck that was parked nearby had meth-making materials. They towed the truck to continue the investigation, and they're still looking for the owner.

Charleston Police are looking for two men they think used a stolen debit card to buy cigarettes and lottery tickets. The men were caught by store surveillance cameras at a Kanawha County covenience store, and detectives think the card was used at several other locations around the county as well. One suspect drives a maroon Nissan sedan, and the other suspect was a passenger. Anyone with information should contact Charleston police.

Charleston police made a bust this week in a copper theft case. 21-year old Brittany Renee Vandale and 22-year old Jerrith Edward Witt, both of Charleston, have been arrested and charged in the case. Police say they stole hundreds of pounds of copper from Charleston's East End. Officers think they stole several copper downspouts and copper piping all over the East End, and they could face additional charges of burglary and transfer and receiving stolen property.

Firefighters from Bancroft, Nitro and Poca responsded to a small fire at the Airgas plant in Putnam County yesterday. The blaze was put out quickly and there were no injuries, but the plant may still be on edge after a series of explosions in May. Two workers were injured then.